A new bill filed by NC Senator Ralph Hise yesterday would increase funding for the controversial Opportunity Scholarship voucher program by $2,000,000 per year beginning next school year.
This seems like a good time for a reminder about exactly what your tax dollars are supporting when they’re used in this manner.
Here are five perennial top ten voucher fund recipients, how much $ they’ve pulled in since the program began in 2014-15*, and discriminatory language from their student handbooks and/or admissions documents.
Northwood Temple Academy, Fayetteville: $1,379,402
Northwood Temple Academy expects teachers to believe that any form of sexual immorality (including adultery, fornication, homosexual behavior, transgenderism, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, and use of pornography) is sinful and offensive to God (Matthew 15:18-20; I Corinthians 6:9-10).
All students are expected to exhibit the qualities of a Christ-like life espoused and taught by NTA and to refrain from certain activities and behavior. Thus, NTA retains the right to refuse enrollment to or to require automatic withdrawal of any student who engages in sexual immorality, including any student who professes to be homosexual/bisexual/transgendered or is a practicing homosexual/bisexual/transgendered, as well as any student who condones, supports, or otherwise promotes such practices or is unable the support the moral principles of the school (Leviticus 20:13, Romans 1:27). NTA retains the right to refuse enrollment or require automatic withdrawal of students if a parent engages in sexual immorality, including any who practice, promote and/or condone homosexual/bisexual/transgendered behavior (Romans 1:24-27, 1 Cor. 6:9. 1 Cor. 6:18-20. 1 Thess. 4:3-5, Heb. 13:4).
Living Water Christian School, Jacksonville: $1,460,080
Living Water Christian School’s Biblical role is to work in conjunction with the home to provide an education grounded upon spiritual truth and to mold students to be Christ-like. On occasion, the atmosphere or conduct within a home may be counter or in opposition to the Biblical lifestyle LWCS teaches. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to sexual immorality, homosexual or transgender orientation, or inability to support the moral principles of LWCS. LWCS expects parents/guardians to refrain from conduct or a lifestyle which would undermine the religion, Christian beliefs and values taught by the School and to cooperate and support the religious educational philosophy of the School. In such circumstances LWCS, predicated upon religious reasons, cannot effectively partner with the parent/guardian because of the divergence between the religious teachings of the School, which permeate the entire educational experience and philosophy of LWCS, and the beliefs, attitude, lifestyle or conduct of the parent/guardian. LWCS reserves the right, within its sole discretion, to refuse admission of an applicant or to discontinue enrollment of a student.
Fayetteville Christian School, Fayetteville: $2,083,120
School handbook
The student and at least one parent with whom the student resides must be in full agreement with the FCS Statement of Faith and have received Jesus Christ as their Savior. In addition, the parent and student must regularly fellowship in a local faith based, Bible believing church. Accordingly, FCS will not admit families that belong to or express faith in non-Christian religions such as, but not limited to: Mormons (LDS Church), Jehovah’s Witnesses, Muslims (Islam), non-Messianic Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, etc. Furthermore, students and families are expected to manifest by example Christian virtue in their lives both in and out of school by living life according to Biblical truth. Accordingly, FCS will not admit families that engage in illicit drug use, sexual promiscuity, homosexuality (LGBT) or other behaviors that Scripture defines as deviate and perverted. Once admitted, if the student or parent/guardian with whom the student resides becomes involved in any of the above activities it will be grounds for dismissal of the student/family from the school.
Liberty Christian Academy, Richlands: $2,487,617
School morality statement
LCA is a religious institution providing an education in a distinct Christian environment, believing its biblical role is to work in conjunction with the home to mold students to be Christ-like. On occasions in which the atmosphere or conduct within a particular home or the activities of the student are counter to or in opposition to the biblical lifestyle the school teaches, the school reserves the right, within its sole discretion, to refuse admission of an applicant or discontinue enrollment of a current student. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, living in, practicing, condoning, or supporting sexual immorality, including but not limited to, sex outside of marriage, homosexual acts, bisexual acts; gender identity different than the birth sex at the chromosomal level; promoting such practices; or otherwise the inability to support the moral principles of the school (Leviticus 20:13a, Romans 1:27, Matthew 19:4-6).
Berean Baptist Academy, Fayetteville: $2,542,444
Articles of faith
We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex (Gen. 19:5,13; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom. 1:26-29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8). We believe that the only Scriptural marriage is the joining of one man and one woman (Gen. 2:24; Mk. 10:6-12; Rom. 7:2; 1 Cor. 7:10). We believe that God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society (Deut. 6:4-9). The husband is to love the wife as Christ loves the church (Eph. 5:21-33). The wife is to submit herself to the Scriptural leadership of her husband as the church submits to the headship of Christ (Eph. 5:22-23; Phil 2:10, 11).
Student handbook
Any BBA student who is engaged in a sexually immoral relationship or who has engaged in a sexually immoral relationship during the school year will be subject to corrective action ranging from a ten-day suspension with probation to dismissal from the Academy.
If you object to your hard-earned tax dollars going to institutions that are able to legally discriminate against children, contact your state legislator before the General Assembly reconvenes on May 18 and urge them to vote no on this bill.
Senate contact info
House contact info